Analysts predict cattle price falls in 2018

Australian cattle prices are expected to take a tumble in 2018, but it is unclear whether the price drop will be reflected on supermarket shelves, industry analysts say.

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and Rabobank both released reports last week, anticipating growing beef production across the world would place downward pressure on Australian prices in the year ahead.

Queensland hosts around half of the national beef herd, which was still undergoing a rebuild after plummeting to a 20-year-low in 2015, sparking the ongoing beef price spike. MLA expect the herd rebuild to be complete by 2022.